The Clock Strikes At Midnight

When it comes to Woody Allen movies, there is no middle ground.  You either love them or you hate them.  Even though I have only seen a handful of his films I can honestly say that I am one of those people that loves them, and Midnight in Paris is no different.

Midnight in Paris is the story of a screenwriter who is on a trip to Paris, and gets mysteriously transported back to the 1920's every night.  This film falls more into the realm of fantasy than most of Woody Allen's work which is what makes it so interesting to watch.  Every night, Gil (Owen Wilson) meets famous people from that era, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway, and then when he tells his fiance, Inez (Rachel McAdams), about his adventures she worries that he might have a brain tumor.  This makes for humorous banter between the two.  Her father ( Kurt Fuller) even has a private detective follow him every night, but then he gets transported as well.  The wit, humor and great characters are all there in typical Woody Allen fashion.  There are a few plot holes in the movie, but overall it is quite enjoyable.

Owen Wilson plays Gil.  Gil is a man who is wrapped up in "Golden Age Thinking".  He truly believes that the 1920's is a better time period than the one he is currently living in.  Woody Allen wrote his character beautifully.  Gil cannot stop talking about how much he loves Paris.  Inez is actually quite annoyed by this.  In fact, it is not only clear to us as the audience that the two of them are not meant for each other, but we know deep down that Gil feels that way too.  I am usually not a big fan of Owen Wilson, but if he did more dramatic roles I would be up for seeing them because he absolutely shines in this movie.

Rachel McAdams plays Inez.  Even though Inez cannot stand Paris, she is completely infatuated with her friend Paul because of his intellectual level.  She even looks down on Gil for not being more like Paul.  It takes a truly great actor/actress to make a completely loathsome character, and that is exactly what McAdams does.  McAdams is so good in the film that it makes you want to reach through the screen and grab her by the throat.  It has been a long time since I have seen Rachel McAdams in a good movie but, like her counterpart, she is brilliant in her role as Inez

Woody Allen beautifully directs Midnight in Paris.  Paris is the central character in the film, even more so than Gil or Inez.  In fact, the first few minutes of the film is filled with wonderful shots of the city and the people in it.  It is also remarkable to see 1920's Paris recreated.  Everything, right down to the costumes, feels authentic.  This is truly another landmark hit for Woody Allen.

I had so much fun watching Midnight in Paris.  Woody Allen always creates such dynamic characters, and this film is a great example of that.  If you are a fan of Woody Allen, you should definitely check out this movie.